Bishop-elect Peter Dai Bui, who was appointed as the second auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Phoenix on Dec. 19 by Pope Leo XIV, will be ordained a bishop on Tuesday, Feb. 17, at 10 a.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Avondale, Ariz. Due to limited seating capacity, the ordination Mass is by invitation only. Vespers for clergy, religious and immediate family will take place the night prior (Feb. 16).  The ordination Mass will be live streamed on the Diocese of Phoenix’s YouTube and Facebook platforms and will include a 30-minute program beginning at 9:30 a.m., featuring a four-part video series on getting to know Bishop-elect Bui. The series will include his story of fleeing Vietnam with his parents and nine siblings as a four-year-old, his priestly service involving the Amazon jungle, his heart for the poor and some of his hobbies and personal interests.  

According to the data recently released in the 2025 edition of The Official Catholic Directory, the Diocese of Phoenix is now the second largest Catholic diocese in the United States, passing the Archdiocese of New York and the Archdiocese of Chicago. The Official Catholic Directory is published annually by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).  Per the 2025 publication, the nation’s five largest U.S. dioceses are the Archdiocese of Los Angeles (3.79 million), Diocese of Phoenix (2.01 million), Archdiocese of Chicago (1.95 million), Archdiocese of Boston (1.79 million) and the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston (1.70 million). 

WASHINGTON – Pope Leo XIV has appointed Reverend James A. Misko, a priest of the Diocese of Austin, as the Bishop of Tucson. Father Misko currently serves as vicar general and moderator of the curia for the Diocese of Austin. The appointment was publicized in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 20, by Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States. The following biographical information for Bishop-elect Misko was drawn from preliminary materials provided to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops:

Fr. Julius Kayiwa was installed as pastor of two parishes this weekend by Bishop John Dolan in the Northern region of the Diocese of Phoenix. This first pastor installation Mass took place at Good Shepherd of the Desert Catholic Church in Congress, Ariz., on Dec. 20, and the second took place the following morning at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Bagdad, Ariz. The two parish communities near Wickenburg, Ariz., are about 50 miles apart.

The second annual diocesan Simbang Gabi drew an overflow crowd Sunday evening (Dec. 14) at St. Paul Catholic Church in Phoenix, as Bishop John Dolan celebrated the Mass that kicks off a nine-day series of novena Masses at six different parishes in the Diocese of Phoenix. Established in the 1600s, Simbang Gabi is a cherished Filipino Catholic Christmas tradition, consisting of a nine-day series of dawn Masses leading up to Christmas. It is one of the most vibrant and beloved expressions of Filipino faith and culture.

Bishop John Dolan released his pastoral plan today (Dec. 12), the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The plan, entitled “El Camino Real; Year Two of a Seven-Year Pastoral Plan,” delves into the bishop’s heart and themes for 2026 of his plan on evangelization leading up to the 500th anniversary of Our Lady of Guadalupe’s apparitions to St. Juan Diego in 2031. Click below to access the plan in English and Spanish. 

Thousands turned out on Saturday morning (Dec. 6) for the 20th annual Honor Your Mother event, the Diocese of Phoenix’s celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The day began with a rosary, followed by an outdoor Mass and procession through the streets of downtown Phoenix. Several priests joined Bishop John Dolan, Auxiliary Bishop Eduardo Nevares and Archbishop Miguel Cabrejos Vidarte, OFM, of Trujillo, Peru, for the Mass.

Bishop John Dolan made his first visit to Andre House on Tuesday evening (Dec. 2) in downtown Phoenix, touring the facility and serving food to guests. Founded in November of 1984 by two Holy Cross priests from Notre Dame University, Andre House of Arizona responds to the basic needs of the poor while encouraging others to do the same.

The ordination of Nathan Blanchard to the Order of the Diaconate was celebrated by Bishop John Dolan on Saturday (Nov. 22) at San Francisco de Asis Catholic Church in Flagstaff, Ariz. Over a dozen priests from the Diocese of Phoenix and Bishop Gary Janak, JLC, from Assumption Seminary in San Antonio, Texas, were concelebrants at the special Mass. Also in attendance were Blanchard's parents, Dcn. Greg and Christina Blanchard, and his five siblings.  

Fr. John Muir, the vicar general for the Diocese of Phoenix, led a special blessing of the new offices and the employees at the Arizona Republic newspaper on Monday (Nov. 17) morning in central Phoenix, the first day reporters and staff moved into the new space.